Ulster confirm that Court to leave province

It has been confirmed that Ireland and Ulster loosehead prop, Tom Court, will leave to join London Irish at the end of this season after agreeing a long term contract with the Aviva Premiership club.

Court joined Ulster at the start of the 2006 season, has made 135 appearances for the Province and was seen as a player who could operate on both sides of the scrum.

He represented the British and Irish Lions last summer in their successful tour to Australia after being drafted in to the squad to provide injury cover and played 35 minutes for the tourists in the win over the Melbourne Rebels.

Although born in Australia Court qualified to play for Ireland through ancestry and has won 32 international caps..

”I feel that this is the right decision with regards to me and my career at this stage,” said Court. “It is going to be very sad when the time comes to actually leave and finish up, but there is a lot of rugby left for me with the Province.

“There are six months remaining of this season, so there is even more motivation for me to make the most of it while I am here and to try and help Ulster win something.”

The 33 year-old played in both the 2012 Heineken Cup Final and last season's RaboDirec t PRO12 final and was a stand-out performer in last month's wins over Leicester Tigers and Montpellier.